Tank ball



Dec. 12, 1933. J RYAN 1,939,024

TANK BALL Filed June 29, 1932 q INVENTOR James C f? 00 g 5 W'm w/ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES TANK BALL James C. Ryan, KansasCity, Mo., assignor to Ross Manufacturing Company, Kansas City, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Application June 29, 1932. Serial No. 619,821

1 Claim. (01. 457) My invention relates to tank balls of the typeemployed in connection with valves of flushing or supply tanks, and hasfor its principal object to provide a ball of the character adapted foreffectively absorbing strains imposed by water pressure acting on thetank ball when it is raised from or dropped into the seat of the flushvalve.

In accomplishing this object I have provided improved details ofstructure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tank ball con structed according to myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

5 Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section on the line 33, Fig. 2, ofthe ball particularly illustrating the interior reinforcing elements,

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 44, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:-

1 designates the ball as a whole including the semi-spherical bottomportion 2 consisting of a wall of rubber or other flexible, water-proofmaterial gradually reducing in thickness from its upper edge to thebeaded opening 3 that is provided for mounting the ball on a flush valve(not shown), and the concaved upper wall 4 terminating in a solid boss 5provided with a threaded socket 6 for receiving the threaded end of avalve rod (not shown).

Formed integral with the upper wall 4 are stiffening ribs 7 extending inspaced relation across the circular groove formed by the concavity ofthe wall 4 with their upper edges lying within a plane abutting theedges of the groove.

The interior of the part of the ball formed by it is subjected to thegreatest strains.

the concaved wall 4 has a flat face 8 constituting the base of the boss5, and extending diametrically across the interior of the ball betweenthe convex inner portions of the wall 4 are ribs 9 having end portions10 extended beyond the wall 4 and connected with the wall 2, the freeedges of the ribs 9 being concaved to arch at the axis of the ball.

With a ball constructed as described, the pressure of the water on thetank ball is distributed interiorly as well as exteriorly to the wall ofthe ball in all directions to not only prevent collapse of the wall bythe interior bracing but prevent outward distortion of the ball bytensile strength of the exterior ribs.

It is apparent, therefore, that I have provided a ball of this characterwhich is not only easy to I manufacture and of sightly appearance, butfurther embodies the advantage of strength where What I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

A tank ball including a substantially semispherical portion terminatingin an axial opening, with the wall of said portion reducing in thicknesstoward said opening, a complementary portion integral with saidsemi-spherical portion having a concaved wall providing an exteriorcircular groove and a boss at the axis of said portion provided with afiat inner face and an exterior socket, exterior cross ribs on saidconcaved wall, and

stifiening ribs extending diametrically across the interior of saidcomplementary portion for supplementing the stiffening action of theexterior ribs. 90.

JAMES C. RYAN.

